News

Port of Baltimore Getting Ready for Mega Ships

Source: World Maritime News

June 29th 2017

In an effort to make room for supersized container ships arriving through the Expanded Panama Canal, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Maryland Port Administration (MDOT MPA) is expanding its cargo opportunities.

Namely, the MDOT MPA recently acquired a property at the Point Breeze Business Center, which is located right behind the Seagirt Marine Terminal as it prepares to handle the increased amounts of containerized cargo.

“Since welcoming our first big container ship through the newly expanded Panama Canal last year, the Port of Baltimore has seen a significant jump in its container business,” Governor Larry Hogan said.

The MDOT MPA plans to utilize the additional land as a container storage location but can also use it for autos and roll on/roll off storage.

In 2016, the port handled a record 538,567 containers. Since July 2016, when the port welcomed its first large container ship through the Panama Canal, containers are up seven percent.

The Port of Baltimore is one of only four US East Coast ports currently capable of handling some of the largest ships in the world.